“Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law.1 They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies.

“As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards,1 those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice2 – they will all be destroyed together,”3 says the Lord.

“Run for safety, people of Benjamin! Get out of Jerusalem!1 Sound the trumpet2 in Tekoa! Light the signal fires at Beth Hakkerem! For disaster lurks3 out of the north; it will bring great destruction.4

So,” the Lord God1 says, “my raging fury will be poured out on this land.2 It will be poured out on human beings and animals, on trees and crops.3 And it will burn like a fire which cannot be extinguished.”

I have listened to them very carefully,1 but they do not speak honestly. None of them regrets the evil he has done. None of them says, “I have done wrong!”2 All of them persist in their own wayward course3 like a horse charging recklessly into battle.

The snorting of the enemy’s horses is already being heard in the city of Dan. The sound of the neighing of their stallions1 causes the whole land to tremble with fear. They are coming to destroy the land and everything in it! They are coming to destroy2 the cities and everyone who lives in them!”

Their widows will become in my sight more numerous1 than the grains of sand on the seashores. At noontime I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men.2 I will cause anguish3 and terror to fall suddenly upon them.4

They will die of deadly diseases. No one will mourn for them. They will not be buried. Their dead bodies will lie like manure spread on the ground. They will be killed in war or die of starvation. Their corpses will be food for the birds and wild animals.

Say, ‘Listen to what the Lord says, you kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem!1 The Lord God of Israel who rules over all2 says, “I will bring a disaster on this place3 that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring!4